It’s The Little Things: The Smallest Houseplants You Have Ever Seen

01 Oct It’s The Little Things: The Smallest Houseplants You Have Ever Seen

One of my secret dreams is to be an amazing gardener with a lush, wild-looking English garden.  I will consistently wear a large sunhat with a linen tie and white linen clothes that never look dirty, even after I have been calmly gardening all day.  When someone compliments a plant in my garden, I will say things like, “Oh yes, I love when ____ plant is here in the fall, but wait until the spring when the ____ bloom”, and not bat an eye.  Oh, and I will always, always smell like lavender.

I actually learned quite a bit about gardening when I lived in Branson, Missouri.  Since I had friends with large families (10 children or more!), I spent time with them in their family gardens.  It also helps that my Dad is a licensed nurseryman (as a hobby) and is a walking encyclopedia of plants.  So I am developing my green thumb.  However, my love for gardening and planting and growing and harvesting is not restricted to the outdoors.  Especially in the Fall and Winter, I focus on keeping a garden of sorts in my home.  If you read this post, you have seen the greenery in my entryway.  My husband recently commented on how pretty some plants looked near the kitchen sink after I left them there after watering.  It got me to thinking how I could practically work plants into that area.

Knowing I needed the counter space to be free since that is such a heavy work area, my only option was the tiny window sill.  Instantly, I remembered something I had seen in one of my favorite booths called “diGs” at one of the local antique malls.  (Montgomery Street for you readers from DFW)  Aren’t these tiny little pots darling?  They are literally three inches tall and have that perfectly aged look.

When I first saw these little pots, I wondered what I could do with them because surely, plants that small are not sold anywhere.  Well, I was wrong.  A quick trip to Archie’s Gardenland in Fort Worth revealed a plethora of varied fens in tiny pots.  They were around $3 each.  Side Note:  If you have to have some of your own lilliputian plants after reading this, and are not sure where to find them, I would check with your local, generally smaller and more specialized nurseries.  (i.e. not Walmart, Lowes, etc.)  Call around and ask before you take any long trips.  These little guys would be great for terrariums, too!

After selecting ten ferns that would be happy in my window, I tackled my next problem – the fact these little pots had no drain hole in the bottom.  I pondered what to do and ended up ever so lightly puncturing the bottom of them with a large nail.

I did have one casualty though.  Bummer.  I will have to go back and grab one more.  Hope they’re still there!

Then the planting could begin!

I had a cute little four-year-old using a measuring cup to water our freshly planted ferns.

My next thought was…”Hmmm, okay, what should I have the pot with the newly punctured hole drain into?”  As much as I would love to find a charming little set of old dishes, I knew I wanted to get my project done, and I liked the idea of the old pots paired with something more modern. Maybe someday I will find just the right set of old dishes, and maybe I will switch them out.

I headed to World Market – I find stores with a global aspect always have interesting little things that work for projects like this – and quickly found my solution.

These square mini tasting plates fit the bill perfectly.  Although on the site there is a set of four for $11.96, in-store they were .99 each, plus I had a 10% off coupon!  Boom!

I couldn’t help but share some of the other items in their “mini tasting” collection that would be adorable for a variety of uses, but would be especially cute as planters for tiny ferns.  All you would have to do is buy a drill bit that will work on ceramic, drill yourself a tiny hole, and voila! You have an interesting outside-the-box planter.

You could write the name of each fern on these, so cute!

A bit more modern look found here.

I think these mini tureens as planters would be so fab!

I almost changed my entire plan when I saw this little mug set.  How cute and different would these be as mini planters?!

While shopping at Crate & Barrel for a client last week, I saw the Brooklyn long vase which I think would also make a pretty holder for plants on a window sill or a narrow space.

Before my big “tiny” reveal, I thought I would share some useful information about houseplants.  Not only are they pretty, they are physically and mentally beneficial.  Really!  Which is exactly why I am not a fan of faux greenery in a home.  Faux houseplants are dust collectors – if you have allergies or asthma, this is bad news.  Plus the pretend plants will not have these benefits:

1.  Indoor plants have been shown to reduce cold-related illnesses by more than 30% due to their increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.

2.  We breathe the same air in our homes again and again, potentially inhaling harmful substances that are trapped inside. Indoor plants can help to remove pollutants including VOC’s that cause headaches, nausea, and more.

3. House plants can contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, making you calmer and more optimistic. Studies have shown that patients who face a garden view in their hospital rooms often recover more quickly than those facing a wall.  Even plants in the room make a difference!  Patients request less pain medication, have lower heart rates and blood pressure, experience less fatigue and anxiety, and are released from the hospital sooner.

4. Exposing children to allergens such as plants early in life can help them build a tolerance and immunity to the allergen. It works like a custom allergy shot, naturally.

With that in mind, say hello to my new health booster by the kitchen sink.

They make me happy every time I see them.

Do you have any house plants?